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Sunday, November 8, 2015

The Catcher in the Rye. A book that captures
teenage alienation in a way no other has before starts with a seventeen-year-old
boy, Holden Caulfield, in an undisclosed ‘crumby place’ not too far from
Hollywood (Los Angeles, California) where his brother, one who visits him practically every week, lives. There
are those who assume he’s in a psychiatric hospital after suffering a nervous
breakdown. Others swear he’s in a tuberculosis sanatorium because he was so sick when he neared the end of
his recount. No one knows for certain where he is, and quite frankly, no one
cares. When given the chance to look back to the beginning of the book, those
who finish The Catcher in the Rye,
who have compassion for Holden, and who care about his plight are simply relieved to know
he’s not killed himself and/or gotten killed and is receiving the help he very
obviously needs.

Regardless
of where he is or why he’s there, Holden cynically – endearingly – narrates his story, beginning when he’s at Pencey Prep
in Agerstown, Pennsylvania, a fictional town believed to be near Wayne, Pennsylvania. At sixteen, over six feet tall, partially grey, extremely
thin, and out of shape, he’s been kicked out of his boarding school for not
applying himself. With his retelling, it’s apparent he’s having trouble dealing
with his past, his future, and his need to admit his failure to his absent and
unforgiving parents. Even though they are inattentive, his parents have
expectations of their son, and Holden knows his father will be disappointed once
again.

After
leaving Agerstown in the middle of the night via a train and upon arriving at
Penn Station, Holden does everything he can to stay away from his parents’
apartment… to catch up with old friends/flames… to act as if he’s already a
grown-up who lives on his own and answers to no one. While in New York and living in a hotel, he
spirals down – mentally, physically, and emotionally – until he has a breakdown
while watching Phoebe, his sweet, innocent sister, ride a carousel while living
in a world filled with all of the terrible things he wants to protect her from.

In
a depressed and haunting manner, Holden frequently reminds readers that he can
never forget Allie, his younger brother whose tragic and premature
death from leukemia three years before, has changed him forever.
Based on the
events disclosed and thoughts shared, Holden realizes he’s becoming an adult and
will soon be completely responsible for himself and his actions.

And their ramifications.

Because
this reality both terrifies and depresses him, Holden dreams of becoming the ‘Catcher
in the Rye’ (someone who stands at the edge of a dangerous cliff and catches
children before they fall off) so he can protect young, innocent children
from the same fate… from becoming an adult. Logically, he knows that there is
nothing he can do for himself or others and that short of dying (like Allie
died) everyone becomes an adult. Everything about this depresses him in
such a way that it’s quite nearly palpable for the readers who have invested
themselves in his story and the inner turmoil that comes with him.

The
messages deeply embedded within The Catcher in the Rye
are numerous,
and are ones Holden himself seems to understand as he looks back at his very
necessary coming of age adventure. First, he realizes that Phoebe and all other
children must be allowed to take risks even when those risks are dangerous.
Second, resisting changes – including that of growing older – is resisting life,
and resisting life and its changes can lead to misery and madness.

This post was envisioned by and done for Cotopaxi. The company is an outdoor enthusiast's dream, and as you can tell, they are unique when it comes to creative ways to engage new and existing customers. Those really are my favorite types of companies. Thanks so much Cotopaxi for allowing me to be a part of this project. It was GREAT fun, and - without a shadow of doubt - you have a brand new customer and fan!

About Me

She lives in Texas with her husband, their nineteen-year-old
daughter, and nine-year-old son. Besides being blessed with a supportive
family, she counts her career as an administrator and registered nurse in
not-for-profit hospitals among her most fulfilling accomplishments.

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